blackberry Variety
Natchez
Overview
Early season floricane-fruiting blackberry
Breeder: University of Arkansas, USA
Natchez is an early ripening, thornless floricane blackberry with large, glossy fruit, strong firmness and excellent shelf life, supporting high yields and strong shipping performance for fresh and processing markets.
Natchez Key Features
Size
Large berries, 8–9 g
Colour
Glossy black fruit with strong shine
Flavour
Balanced sweetness (~9.5% Brix) with characteristic blackberry aroma
Comparative results
Compare key commercial characteristics across our blackberry genetics, including chill type, yield performance, fruit firmness, flavour profile, and market suitability. Use the dropdown below to select a trait and compare performance across our blackberry varieties.
Chill Requirement
Natchez
300 hours
Von
400-800 hours
Columbia Star
600+ hours
Ouachita
400–500 hours
Growth Habit
Von
Thornless, upright
Natchez
Thornless; erect to semi-erect (semi-erect growing habit)
Columbia Star
Vigorous, thornless plants with short, strong fruiting laterals
Ouachita
Thornless; erect to semi-erect (semi-erect growing habit)
Seasonality
Natchez
Early season; first ripe ~3 June; peak ~8 June; last ~11 July (comparative results)
Von
Mid season
Columbia Star
Early season; harvest starts beginning of July; 50% ripe date ~12 July (Oregon, USA)
Ouachita
Mid season; first ripe ~12 June (comparative results)
Yield
Natchez
Consistent high yields; yield potential 32 t/ha (comparative results)
Von
10–50 % higher than standard varieties
Columbia Star
High yielding; reported yield 34 t/ha; 6.17–8.52 kg/plant average in replicated trials (over 8.5 kg/plant achieved in test plots)
Ouachita
Consistent high yields; yield potential 27 t/ha (comparative results)
Fruit Size
Natchez
Large berries 8–9 g (berry weight 9.4 g in comparative results)
Von
9.1g average
Columbia Star
Large, long-shaped berries (7.6 g average in replicated trials)
Ouachita
Conical fruit; good size (approx. 4.5–6.8 g; berry weight 6.0 g in comparative results)
Fruit Colour
Natchez
Glossy, attractive black finish
Von
Deep black with shine
Columbia Star
Good, dark fruit colour with exceptional shine; colour maintained post-harvest
Ouachita
Glossy black fruit
Firmness
Natchez
Very firm fruit that stores well (berry firmness 8.1 in comparative results)
Von
Extremely Firm, Small Seeds
Columbia Star
Strong firmness and texture (texture 8.3/9; firmness 7.6/9; berry firmness 8.6 in comparative results)
Ouachita
Firm berries with good travelling quality (berry firmness 8.3 in comparative results)
Flavour
Natchez
Sweet flavour with distinctive blackberry aroma (9.5% soluble solids/Brix in comparative results)
Von
Sweet (9.4% soluble solids), low acid (pH 3.57)
Columbia Star
Outstanding ‘dessert’ flavour from high sugars and low acids (12.7 Brix in comparative results)
Ouachita
Sweet flavour with distinctive blackberry aroma (9.5% soluble solids/Brix in comparative results)
Shelf Life
Natchez
Exceptional shelf life; performs well for commercial shipping
Von
Excellent shelf life
Columbia Star
Exceptional shelf life; fruit quality well maintained post-picking
Ouachita
Exceptional shelf life with good travelling quality
Use
Natchez
Fresh market; also adapted to processed fruit market
Von
Fresh and processed market
Columbia Star
Premium fresh market; also adapted to processed fruit market
Ouachita
Premium fresh market; also adapted to processed fruit market
Natchez Enquiry
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